What the heck Wenger? Arsenal’s season started in defeat as West Ham won their first Premier League game under Slaven Bilic. Keeper Petr Cech misjudged Dimitri Payet’s free-kick to allow Cheikhou Kouyate to nod in the Hammers’ first. And after the break Mauro Zarate finished from 20 yards after being gifted the ball by the Gunners defence. Arsenal, who controlled possession but were worryingly blunt in the final third, came closest when Aaron Ramsey hit the crossbar in the first half. Gunners fans, who left the Emirates Stadium in large numbers before the final whistle, will feel like they have seen all this before, not just in the way their side performed, but also in the familiarity of their starting line-up.
Cech’s arrival from Chelsea has been Wenger’s only summer signing since last term’s third-place finish, and it was an uncharacteristic display from the experienced keeper. The 33-year-old was not only at fault for West Ham’s opener, but was wrong-footed by Zarate’s strike, although he received little help from his defence as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Francis Coquelin combined to give the ball away on the edge of their own area. Olivier Giroud frequently looked isolated up front, which will no doubt increase the hope among Arsenal supporters that a reported deal for Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema can be completed.
On this going, I wonder how long it will take for a new signing or two to come up in discussions. Plus, how much slack will Wenger be given before the “Wenger Out” brigade starts unfurling banners around the stadium? You know me, I strongly believe that Wenger should have left a season or two ago. His time should have been up but he is too stubborn to admit it or act accordingly. It’s painful to watch huge sections of the game with Arsenal in the opponents goal area, players passing back and forth with no end in sight.